Hey, i am the pround new owner of a 2002 318 2L petrol Coupe. Purchased from my local garage with 106,000 miles on the clock. Full srvc history etc. Gotta say sofar it drives like a dream. Few things im gonna get done. Oil service, break fluid change, 4 wheel alignment. Then hopefully it shouldent need touching for a while. What are peoples experiences/opinions of these cars. Should it be trouble free with this mileage....any common faults etc its my first beamer

Welcome to the forum mate.

Just look or obvious wear and tere, suspension, clutch ( pretty good on BMWs) etc.

Sound sound. Is there anything i should check for while its up on the ramp this weekend. Garage are gonna check handbrake linkage. Can hear a scoring sound coming from the rear when i apply the brakes and handbrake ocasionaly sticks, they wreckon could be the linkage. Whats this i read about control arm bushings being another common item to replace along with water pump etc...

Not sure on water pump mate.

Control arm bushes are a common problem, but I just changed my control arms and bushes my self for £70 and a few hours of my time, and I'm no mechanic.

As for hand break, it works like a drum break style break inside the rear disc so this won't be connected to your foot break issue.

The foot break issue will be worn pads, the hand break issue will be due to the fact the E46 hand break is just terrible.

Sound, i guess i will just have to see how i go. Fingers crossed i hope i have bought a gem! Was a tad nervous investing a wad of my hard earnt cash into a car reading 106k. Just hope these bmw things are as solid as people say they are :D

Also saturday im taking it to an indi garage.. oil service and brake fluid change ive been quoted 162 inc vat. This sound decent?

Not bad, make sure they are doing filters too mate

Just found out about swirl flaps. Are these only on diesel engines?

All BMW diesels from 2001-present are potentially affected, generally older manuals arent affected but all automatic models are affected.

Cool, im petrol manual so all is good. Any meets coming up or whatever? Im birmingham, sutton area

I'm Walsall, I think there is a Brum meet being organised on here somewhere dude.

Just read this.....sutton park....that is within spitting distance of me. End of my road haha

Cool, I'm trying to keep that thread alive, I wanna try get this fr next month

Sound well you can +1 im up for this. I could push my beamer to sutton park...altho it would be nice to drive it. Do u guys meet and then go on a bit of a cruise?

Long as there ain't no speed bumps I'm up for anything lol

Sound. I will keep my eye on the post and make my way along!

hi as for bmw s mine is 20yrs old 112000 miles on clock still going strong

drop links front and back need to be done every 3yrs

oil and filter every 5000 miles and you should have many years of driving fun

ONCE BMW ALWAYS BMW

steve hit the nail on the head, once you have joined the Bayerische Motoren Werke all other cars seem "lesser" over 300k on the clock and still counting!

Welcome to BMWOC :)

Cheers guys! I hope i have many happy years to come driving my BMW :D

........course you will,its a BMW :)

Welcome Paul, Enjoy your new car and forum. :D

welcome paul enjoy n im another local near licthfield me